the beachgoers & the firefly chasers
there was a sign of hope
amidst the ongoing trauma of war
was it the sunshine after weeks of rain
or a small flock of white doves
appearing out of nowhere
flying across the battlefield
or was it as simple as a small child
snapping off a branch from the olive tree
there were invisible badges of honor
pinned to the soldiers that perished
ambushed & incapable of defending themselves
some say they were cowards
others say martyrs
the supermajority calling them victims
or their own leaders
regardless
the invisible war intensified & the price paid
was incalculable
unseen or unheard
by the beachgoers & the firefly chasers
impatiently searching for some kind of hope
november two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
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